Alright, fine! He will! "I just don't— I don't get why everyone seems to act like 𝘐'𝘮 such a troubled rookie, when all I really am is confident in my choices. I beat Vile, Sigma, Lumine— I go through all these missions and come out alive, and I've kept everyone else alive too! So why's it

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · 22h ago

Telling someone to do something they were already going to do didn’t necessarily make them want to do it more, but maybe that was the point.

Axl doesn't know what a digouter is, but it sounds like a digger and a router, which sounds like a stupid combination. He wouldn't think this had it not been for his assumption that this guy is totally plagiarizing, which he refuses to revisit. "You totally stole X's whole flow, man. The armor,

𝐑α𐓣𝗄 𝐒 𝐃𝗂𝗀𝗀𝖾𝗋!@purifyinglegend.bsky.social · 2d ago

+ but dust from the ruins. "What? Most digouter armor has this scheme. What do you mean?"

And just as Zero would expect, Axl hardly listens. It seems more like he just wants to argue than to listen to what Zero's trying to tell him, and though it's simmered, he's still kind of grumpy. "I can take criticism just fine when it's warranted and makes sense. Nothing you've said so far is

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · yesterday

Now, did he expect Axl to take his advice right away? Not in a million years. Zero knew he wasn’t likely to change, but hoped he’d become a little more receptive to criticism over time.

Axl leans in to hear. A dungeon, huh, one of Fear and Hunger— bringing back a terrible man. Some political enemy? He has to hope the self-proclaimed mercenary has been tasked to bring down bad people, and he doesn't know him well enough to assume otherwise. Axl is a Maverick Hunter. Cahara,

─ ๋࣭ ✦.【 𝐃𝐄 𝕻𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒 . 】@vagabondprayers.bsky.social · 2d ago

  were below was . . . yet to be seen. 】 ✦ ❝ Coursee, it's no big deal if you say no — but, where would you go ? ❞  

ashes HE SAID THE LINE

When it comes to small, petty and borderline nonsensical arguments, Axl just cannot let shit go. But Zero knows him. Knows him pretty damn well, and probably expected nothing else. "But does it seriously mean Signas had to postpone the ranking training?! It wasn't even that big of a deal!"

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · 2d ago

going on between them, even if Zero wasn’t doing much arguing himself this time around. He’d dealt with Axl long enough to know better than to expect otherwise.

The warning is met with Axl scoffing to brush it off, confidence bordering on arrogance and unshakable. Until he sees these things up close and personal, he's not gonna take Cahara seriously. He's dealt with plenty bad guys! Sigma included, when he was practically nothing but a piloted corpse.

─ ๋࣭ ✦.【 𝐃𝐄 𝕻𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒 . 】@vagabondprayers.bsky.social · 2d ago

  the mercenary's face still holding some boyish youth, 】 ✦ ❝ Confidence gets ya killed real fast here. Now — I could show you a thIng or two, eh . . . for a price or favor, maybe later on. ❞ ✦ ❝ Gotta take care of someone, you see. No can do for free. ❞  

The more Cahara speaks, the more he begins to feel the dread rise, but it doesn't show on him other than a tightening of his fists and a tense posture. So Axl isn't about to get ambushed. That's good. He didn't really wanna get ambushed anyway, but... He's starting to think there's something

─ ๋࣭ ✦.【 𝐃𝐄 𝕻𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒 . 】@vagabondprayers.bsky.social · 2d ago

  they can be . . . ❞ ✦【 A glimpse of the true self, and understanding of the underbelly of the depths. Still, head shook — eyes shut as if in thought, before one would peer to eye the guns, 】 ✦ ❝ . . . That a boomerang ? Or some smoking pistol ? Looks rather odd, Axl. ❞  

Okay. The fuck do you mean— "Sorry, I don't think we accept humans. Or... Geez, how old are you, kid? You can't be any older than twelve."

𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓭𝔂@the5thone.bsky.social · 2d ago

“You aren’t mishearing me I’m telling the truth. I’m a maverick hunter”

Despite the politeness and the invitation, Axl instinctively takes a step back. He's heard plenty enough about strangers being untrustworthy, even though he doubts a human could do anything to really hurt him... "Right, okay. Didn't understand any of that. Name's Axl. I'm a Maverick Hunter."

─ ๋࣭ ✦.【 𝐃𝐄 𝕻𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐒 . 】@vagabondprayers.bsky.social · 2d ago

  ✦【 A click of his tongue, arms stretched in invitation, 】 ✦ ❝ Welllll, you're in Rondon — a little corner of the Sulfur Pits in the country of Europa. You're lucky to have found me, however ; Cahara of the South, mercenary for hire, and traveler extraordinaire. ❞ ✦【 A polite bow.】  

"Don't you guys know it's rude to talk about someone who can hear you?!"

𝑿

"Haha, okay, my audials must not be working! I think I'm mishearing you. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 ???" What does she possibly mean a human child is looking for Mavericks? He genuinely is bewildered.

𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓭𝔂@the5thone.bsky.social · 2d ago

“I said I’m looking for mavericks to fight?”

[ @vagabondprayers.bsky.social ] An unfamiliar world, an unfamiliar person; all is unfamiliar at one point and all can be learned. But it feels so.. Axl isn't sure, bleak? Here. Fortunate he is, Cahara is the first man he sees. "... Sorry, new here. Where am I?"

— 𝐀𝐗𝐋 .ᐟ@copyaxl.bsky.social · last wk.

. . . "Excuse me?" A HUMAN KID??

𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓭𝔂@the5thone.bsky.social · 2d ago

“Looking for Mavericks to fight”

Fortunately, or maybe the opposite depending on just how much Iris does or doesn't want to feel extra bad about an unexpected return, Axl is the last person who'll ever recognize her. She was past his time. "Gone for a long time, huh. One of those little Reploids nomads? Maybe you just quit the

𝓘𝓻𝓲𝓼@joyfulreploid.bsky.social · 2d ago

"You..could say that yes. I've been gone for quite some time so I'm trying to get used to my new surroundings." She said with a smile. Even an half-truth like that hurt her inside but explaining the actual truth especially to someone she just met didn't feel quite right.

[ @purifyinglegend.bsky.social ] Axl almost thinks he's gotta be offended on X's behalf that a probably-human stole his whole flow, but it's not like he doesn't understand being a fan. He's sometimes joked himself that the scar on his own face was a way of showing his appreciation for the blue

— 𝐀𝐗𝐋 .ᐟ@copyaxl.bsky.social · last wk.

[ @the5thone.bsky.social ] Another... Human? Axl thinks? Axl bends a knee to meet her eye-level, not realizing that's probably super rude to do. "Hey, kid! What're you doin' out here by yourself?" Nice to meet someone younger than him, for once!

— 𝐀𝐗𝐋 .ᐟ@copyaxl.bsky.social · last wk.

"Hey, can't complain! Got some good training in, beat a couple'a Mavericks... Are you new here?" <- Oblivious.

𝓘𝓻𝓲𝓼@joyfulreploid.bsky.social · 2d ago

The reploid girl couldn't help but chuckle softly at the other's enthusiasm. "Why hello to you as well, how has your morning been so far?"

A genuine blink-and-you-miss-it moment, Axl only has a second to react before Shadow kicks his precious gun out of his hand. So he acts quickly, swiping his hand out of the way at the very last second. Geez! What a close call. "Come on, what's your deal?" Axl doesn't think this guy's a

𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 ↮ 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑@chaoscontrolled.bsky.social · 2d ago

A gun? Fah. Useless. It was a blink. There were no other words. The hedgehog appeared by Axl's side, ready to kick the gun out of his hand!

"helloooo! good morning!!!"

𝓘𝓻𝓲𝓼@joyfulreploid.bsky.social · 2d ago

"Goooooood morning!"

It's hard to stay mad when Zero is talking so gently, and not really arguing with Axl. He's even more disarmed when Zero acknowledges that he's not a bad Hunter. That's kind of what Axl wanted— that recognition, especially from someone who he looks up to so fiercely. But, damn, he wanted to argue

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · 2d ago

⠀ Zero eventually spoke when a natural opening presented itself. “Yes, I know you’re not a bad Hunter. If you can do better, like you say you do, then take the feedback for what it is and learn from it. That’s all I’m asking.” His tone remained gentle, even as he made his expectations clear. ⠀

"Ugh, this is exactly what I'm talking about! I 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 I can do better because I do, all the time! That's not the point!" He is definitely not over it. "You know how many missions I've already been on?! Sure, maybe not by myself, but— that just means I 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 you know that I'm not a bad Hunter! I've

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · 2d ago

⠀ Oh, Zero could definitely tell he wasn’t over it. “. . . Listen, Axl. I wouldn’t be so hard on you if I didn’t know you could do better. I expect you to hold yourself to that same standard.” ⠀

"Emm..." Axl has to think about it. He doesn't know! He's never even seen a human unaffected before until now! He gives Yoriichi a puzzled look. "I mean, like, you seem to be fine ...?" Said with uncertainty. "Maybe we could get you a gas mask or something...?"

𝒯𝗌𝗎𝗀𝗂𝗄𝗎𝗇𝗂 , 𝒴𝗈𝗋𝗂𝗂𝖼𝗁𝗂@scarletbreath.bsky.social · 4d ago

⠀⠀ “I do not wish to stay underground if I could help it… but is there no way I can stay above without the air harming me?” ⠀⠀

Axl gives Zero a halfhearted glare. He definitely isn't completely chill, but he's not as upset as he was before. "Yeah, I'm over it." Kind of a lie, but he's willing to talk!

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · 2d ago

Years of mentoring had taught him that guiding others extended beyond correcting mistakes and honing skills.

Who's interrupting his brooding!? Axl whips his head around, still as pouty as he was when he first started sulking. . . . Who is that? " . . . Hey . . . Can I help you? Are you lost? "

𝔖𝔥𝔦𝔯𝔬𝔥𝔞 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔠𝔥 𝔬𝔣 𝔩𝔲𝔩𝔲𝔡𝔦𝔡𝔢𝔞~ 🧹@majogamihunter.bsky.social · 3d ago

💬 "Hm? Is that one of those machines Papa spoke about, the stuff human's made and used before discovering magic? I... didn't know they could have feeling's." "Um....h-hello? Mister machine, is everything alright?" She'd ask, approaching the odd...human like metal man with caution.

okay so he's being threatened. usually axl would pull his gun out, shoot first and ask questions later, but he doesn't shoot! does pull his gun out though. "hey c'maaann! just hear me out, strange mechaniloid! give me a chance to explain myself!"

𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 ↮ 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑@chaoscontrolled.bsky.social · 3d ago

"Rep... loid?" Shadow's fist clenched. "I have no use for silly tricks. I am Shadow the Hedgehog! This is who I am!" Pointing at Axl. "This must be one of the Doctor's failed experiments... Hold still, cretin. This won't hurt a bit."

" . . . i think i can say the same for 𝘺𝘰𝘶. name's axl. i'm a reploid. are you some sort of mechaniloid? "

𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 ↮ 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑@chaoscontrolled.bsky.social · 3d ago

@copyaxl.bsky.social "A robot..? No, a human ... Just what- *are* you?"

Axl is sulking in the corner. going dark dhmu

. . .

Ƶ𝐄𝐑𝐎.@wilynumberinfinity.bsky.social · 3d ago

“I’ve never done it intentionally. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 did. Your objective matters, but so does how you accomplish it. Until you understand that, your current rank is where you belong.”